Lochore Meadows Country Park Development Plan
Consultation Report
October 2008
Consultation Report
Fife Council
Lochore Meadows Country Park: Development Plan
Consultation Report
October 2008
Natural Capital 13 Coates Crescent Edinburgh EH3 7AF Telephone 0131 220 6121 Facsimile 0131 220 6131 Email [email protected]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTATIONS 5 1.1 PREAMBLE 5 1.2 THE CONSULTATIONS 5 1.2.1 Workshops 5 1.2.2 Workshop Process 6 1.2.3 ‘Have Your Say’ Comments and Feedback 6 1.2.4 Additional Stakeholders 6 1.3 LAYOUT OF THE CONSULTATION REPORT 7 2 OUTPUTS FROM THE CONSULTATIONS 9 2.1 WORKSHOPS 9 2.2 ‘HAVE YOUR SAY’ COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK 10 2.3 ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDERS 10 3 THE WAY FORWARD 11
APPENDIX A: LIST OF WORKSHOP ATTENDEES APPENDIX B: ‘HAVE YOUR SAY’ COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK FORM APPENDIX C: CONSULTATION LOG APPENDIX D: GROUP WORKSHOP OUTPUTS
Lochore Meadows Country Park: Workshop Report
1 PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTATIONS
1.1 PREAMBLE
Effective management of stakeholder and community expectations and of the consultation process is of importance to the successful progression and delivery of the Lochore Meadows Country Park (LMCP) Development Plan.
The importance of successful community consultation is outlined in the Scottish Government best practice guidance set out in PAN 81: Community Engagement1, where the following ten standards are recommended:
• Involvement; • Support; • Planning; • Methods; • Working Together; • Sharing Information; • Working with Others ; • Improvement; • Feedback; and • Monitoring and Evaluation.
The consultations undertaken for the LMCP Development Plan followed these standards and sought to obtain the views, opinions and ideas from the consultees to inform the Development Plan.
1.2 THE CONSULTATIONS Consultations for the Development Plan included:
• a series of workshops with landowners, LMCP employees, user groups, key stakeholders, local community (see details in Table 1.1); • feedback via ‘Have Your Say’ Comments and Feedback sheet; and • meetings and conversations with individuals and stakeholders in Fife Council.
Consultees were also encouraged to comment by email, telephone or letter with details provided on all correspondence and the posters and leaflets which advertised the workshops.
1.2.1 Workshops
Table 1.1 Workshop Details
Date Details 14 August 2008 930am to 1130am - Land Managers
100pm to 300pm – LMCP Employees
18 August 2008 1000am to 1200noon – Stakeholders and User Groups
700pm to 900pm - Lochgelly Public Meeting
1 Scottish Government (2007) Planning Advice Note (PAN) 81: Community Engagement: Planning with People. Crown Copyright
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Date Details 19 August 2008 700pm to 900pm - Ballingry Public Meeting
28 August 2008 400pm to 600pm - Lochore Meadows Advisory Group Meeting
01 September 2008 700pm to 900pm - Kelty Public Meeting
The workshops were held in various locations in and around LMCP with most being held at LMCP visitor centre and each community workshop being held in the three local community areas of Kelty, Lochgelly and Ballingry.
1.2.2 Workshop Process A wide range of individuals and organisations were invited via email, letter and through extensive advertisement in local communities and at LMCP with posters and leaflets. Overall some 73 people attended the seven workshops. A list of attendees is included in Appendix A.
The workshop was designed to be interactive and to provide all participants with opportunities to share ideas, in groups and also in plenary sessions. The aim of the workshop was to gather information about the views of people on what they liked about the Park, i.e. what they thought were its strengths, and on what they disliked, i.e. what they thought were its weaknesses, with regard to future development. Workshop participants were also asked to consider what they thought the main development opportunities and priorities for the Park together with the key threats. The outputs from all workshop exercises were collated on flipcharts during the workshop (participants’ contributions in their own words and those from plenary sessions). Table 2.1 outlines the top ten (in no particular order) strengths and weaknesses and Table 2.2 outlines the top ten threats and opportunities that emerged from the seven workshops.
The ideas expressed at the workshop were those of individuals and whilst they may be representative of some organisations they were not necessarily the views of all those present.
1.2.3 ‘Have Your Say’ Comments and Feedback These forms (example form provided in Appendix B) were provided to enable those who could not attend a workshop event to comment on the LMCP. These forms were provided in the LMCP visitor centre reception, emailed to those people who could not attend workshops and provided at each workshop for those who wanted to comment further. Approximately 6 ‘Have Your Say’ forms were returned. A record of these responses is included in Appendix C.
1.2.4 Additional Stakeholders A series of additional meetings and phone conversations were held with
• Amanda Drummond, Trust Manager, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust; • Grant Ward, Senior Manager, Sport, Parks & Countryside, Fife Council; • Robin Presswood, Development Manager (Business & Strategy), Fife Council; • James, John and Anne Thomson, Local Landowners; and • Matt Mulderrig, Lomond Homes.
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1.3 LAYOUT OF THE CONSULTATION REPORT The remainder of the report is structured as follows:
• Section 2 presents the outputs from the consultations;
• Section 3 summarises the key information gathered at the workshop to be considered further in the Development Plan;
• Appendix A is a list of the people who attended the workshop;
• Appendix B is an example comments and feedback form;
• Appendix C features a table logging consultation; and
• Appendix D details the feedback from workshop exercises made during group work activity.
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Lochore Meadows Country Park: Workshop Report
2 OUTPUTS FROM THE CONSULTATIONS
2.1 WORKSHOPS This section of the report presents a summary of the outputs from all the workshops (see Table 2.1). Prioritised group outputs (not attributed) from the workshop exercises are included in Appendix D.
Table 2.1 Strengths and Weaknesses of the Park as Determined from Consultation (the top ten concerns in each case)
Strengths (Likes) Weaknesses (Dislikes) • Its location (strategically accessible) • Poor access from Kelty end • A strong local community relationship • Poor signage, promotion, public and enthusiasm for the Park – it is a relations, advertising (Park needs a ‘people’s park’ higher public profile) • It caters for all of the family – young and • Underdeveloped café/restaurant old • Poor visitor centre and interpretation • Free access for all (missed opportunities for mining, • The range of outdoor activities (golf, biodiversity, cultural history) fishing, water sports, walking, cycling • No retail (crafts, local produce etc) and mountain bikes, children’s play • Lack of facilities for young people areas etc) (teenagers) • Good management and Rangers • No indoor facilities (to cater for changes service in weather) • Clean, tidy and well maintained • Poor communication (especially with • The beautiful landscape, natural local communities) environment and wildlife interests • Lack of investment – Park is stagnating • The outdoor education and learning • Lack of overnight accommodation (for opportunities schools/educational visits and overnight • Cultural heritage (bronze age, tourist visitors) medieval, mining etc)
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Table 2.2 Opportunities and Threats for the Park as Determined from Consultation (the top ten in each case but not necessarily in order of importance)
Opportunities Threats • Improve the visitor centre (possibly with a • A lack of funding and investment unique selling point2 as a new eco- that accelerates the slow decline centre/zero carbon centre) with better of the Country Park heritage interpretation (e.g. mining) and • Over development that could improved natural history interpretation, and impact on the natural heritage, in particular a re-vamped café (consider a cultural heritage and current restaurant facility as well) and local craft farming and land management shops practices • Improve the café and the quality and range • Staff cuts and under resourcing of food, source it locally (promote local • A lack of imagination in taking the produce), consider a farm shop Park forward • Create an indoor activity centre that • Not addressing the access contributes to the educational offering, problems provides a resource for school trips (e.g. a • Potential conflicts of interest climbing wall) between activities • Improve transport links and especially • Lack of effective marketing and access into the Country Park from the west promotion end • Setting the goals too high and not • Improve security and provide some sort of achieving them overnight accommodation with visitor • Losing the interest and facilities – wet weather, school trips, commitment of the community camping, bunkhouse or hotel • Poor security in the evenings – • Encourage greater community people can feel unsafe when it is involvement/ownership/ a ‘Friends of dark Lochore’ • Improve marketing, publicity and signage into and around the Park • Build on the outdoor (including fishing and golf) and adventure sports theme and develop further activities such as mountain biking, BMX biking, canoeing, equestrian sports golf etc (particularly catering for teenagers) • Improve and develop wildlife viewing • Improve the interpretation of the historic environment and cultural heritage
2.2 ‘HAVE YOUR SAY’ COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK Information gained from the comments and feedback forms have been incorporated in the information displayed in Table 2.1 and 2.2 and throughout the process of compiling the Development Plan. The full set of responses is included in the Consultation Log in Appendix C.
2.3 ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDERS The information gained from the communications with additional stakeholders have been incorporated in the information displayed in Table 2.1 and 2.2 and throughout the process of compiling the Development Plan.
2 A unique selling point (USP) is a specific feature that would make Lochore Meadows Country Park stand out as different to other country parks
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3 THE WAY FORWARD
These views on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the future development of LMCP have been fed into the emerging Development Plan.
It is appreciated that in the case of the community workshops and for some of the other consultations held, that the issues raised reflect only the views of the attendees and those who have responded to the consultation exercise, and that these may not be fully representative of the wider community. However our approach has been to evaluate each of the issues, and in particular the opportunities identified, and to make a judgement about taking them forward drawing on:
• our own professional knowledge; • feedback from the workshops with professional stakeholders, the Advisory Group, Council Officers and the staff of the Country Park; • feedback from the interviews with Council Officers and Parks and Countryside staff.
In screening the opportunity and priority topic ideas that were suggested during consultation (as shown in Table 2.2) into the top ten suggestions we considered that none of these ideas should be rejected, and that all should be taken forward for consideration in the development plan. It was also considered that appraising the options through the strategic environmental assessment process should also provide an opportunity for further screening and sifting of the ideas.
Following the workshop events a Consultation Note which summarised the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats was issued to all those who consulted on the project. Feedback on the Consultation Note is included in Appendix C.
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Appendix A
List of Workshop Attendees
Lochore Meadows Country Park: Workshop Report Appendix A
Appendix A: Workshop Attendees
Name Organisation Land Managers, 14 August 2008, 930am to 1130am Anne Thomson Hilton of Beath Farm
B.Briggs Constable Benarty House
Ian Gauld Lochore Meadows Equestrian Centre, Tillywhally Farm James B Thomson Hilton of Beath Farm
Jim Brownlie Inchgall Farm
John Thomson Hilton of Beath Farm
Matt Mulderrig Lomond Homes
Nick Brown Lochore Meadows Equestrian Centre
Pat Stevenson Ballingry Farm
William Stevenson Ballingry Farm
Lochore Meadows Country Park - Employees, 14 August 2008, 100pm to 300pm C Smith Estate Team
D Abbott Fife Coast and Countryside Trust
D Glencross Estate Team
G Salmond Estate Team
G Whyte Estate Team
Gail Cunningham Caretaker
Lynne Bramall Outdoor Education Natural Connections
R Paterson Estate Team
Susan Easter Bums off Seats Project Administrator
Stakeholders, 18 August 2008, 1000am to 1200noon Dave Shepherd Scottish Natural Heritage
Alison Irvine Fife Council Access Officer
Campbell Gerrard Sport Scotland
Liz Evans Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre
Ian Gallacher Fife Council
Theresa Hughes Fife Council Jim Hooton Fife Council
Ali Dreyer Fife Council Outdoor Education
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Name Organisation
Steve McHardy Fife Council
Geoff Moy Fife Council Development Services
Julie Horsburgh Fife Coast and Countryside Trust
Allan W Brown Fife Council Development Services
Alison Wood Fife Council development Services (Local and Scott McInroy (area contact) Community Policies)
Lochgelly Public Meeting, 18 August 2008, 700pm to 900pm Mr Adams Local Resident
Mr Dave Adams Local Resident
John Pratt Local Resident
Ballingry Public Meeting, 19 August 2008, 700pm to 900pm J Drennan Ballingry Golf Club
Ti Ironside Ballingry Golf Club
Peter Clark Local Resident
Willie Clarke Fife Councillor
James Payne Local Resident
Michael Payne Benarty Forum
Valerie Tweedie Local Resident
Kevin Payne Local Resident
Allan Shields Local Resident
J Mackie Ballingry Golf Club
D Queen Ballingry Golf Club
K Adams Local Resident
J Burnside Ballingry Golf Club
S Pratt Ballingry Golf Club
D Adams Local Resident
J Pratt Local Resident
Karen Hunter Local Resident
Ashah Hunter Local Resident
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Name Organisation Lochore Meadows Advisory Group Meeting, 28 August 2008, 400pm to 600pm Jean Hogg Kelty Community Council
Martin Kingham Fife Canoeing Activities Group
Ian Scott Fife Constabulary
Ken Stickings Community Inspector, Fife Constabulary
Willie Clarke Fife Councillor
Joe Paterson Benarty Community Council
Kelty Public Meeting, 01 September 2008, 700pm to 900pm George Hogg Local Resident
Jean Hogg Kelty Community Council
Jane Young Kelty Community Council
Betty Cargill Kelty Heritage Trails
Doreen Horstman Kelty Heritage Trails
Mary Edie Kelty Community Council Kelty Heritage Trails Social and Economic Forum Andy Stark Kelty Social and Economic Forum
Marion Barr Local Resident Leslie Barr
Robert Ness Local Resident
John Getley Kelty Heritage Trail
Simon Madder Triple B Skate Park Group
Jason Gilmour Triple B Skate Park Group
Carol Gilmour Local Resident
Total Workshop Attendees: 73
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Appendix B
‘Have Your Say’ Comments and Feedback Form
Have Your Say! Lochore Meadows Country Park Development Plan (2008 – 2018)
The purpose of this form is to provide you with an opportunity to feed back comments on issues and ideas relating to the development of Lochore Meadows Country Park.
Name: Age(circle one): 0-16, 17-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55, 56-65, 66+
Where do you live?:
Type of User (circle one or more): walking, horseriding, fishing, visitor centre, play park, watersports, dog walker, other (please specify) ……………….
How often do you visit Lochore Meadows? (circle one): weekly, fortnightly, monthly, twice in a year, annually
1. What are the strengths of Lochore Meadows Country Park?
2. What are the weaknesses of Lochore Meadows Country Park?
3. What developments or changes would you like to see at Lochore Meadows Country Park?
Please can you pass your completed form to one of the Project Team representatives. Alternatively you can return this form to: Megan Richardson, Natural Capital Ltd, 13 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7AF, Tel: 0131 220 6121, Email: [email protected]
Please turn over for if you require more space to write your comments
Appendix C
Consultation Log
Bressay Tunnel: SIC Planning and Risk Workshop Appendix C
Consultee Date Comments Response/ Comments Clare Hill 04.08.08 ‘Have Your Say’ Comments and Feedback Parks Development Strengths All information, comments and Officer • Location , visitor centre and facilities feedback received on ‘Have Fife Council Weaknesses Your Say’ forms incorporated • Don’t like car park layout (feels dangerous) into consultation outputs which • Play area is old and poor compared to Craigtoun or Beveridge Park in turn inform the development • Main entrance layout and signage is bland and uninviting plan • Its a wild area at night full of neds and boy racers. Golf course is a bit rough. I wouldn’t let my children go out of sight here , the locals on the play area are wild. I live in Kinross but few people there know about the park , those that do often think it’s a rough area( rather go to Pittencreiff Park) • It looks a bit stuck in a time warp with the interpretation and signage all bits and pieces , try directing some one there from Kelty direction or anywhere outside west Fife ! , it feels like a local park for the Ballingry area rather than one of Fife’s country parks.( just look at Craigtoun or Vogrie at Midlothian for some inspiration) Developments / Changes • New play area , bicycle hire, better access from Kinross end linking in with development of Loch Leven footpath for cyclists. More round the clock staffing or maybe a caravan/ camping park on part of the site . Get rid of ice cream vans and introduce some good catering • In the summer there seem to be kids dumped here for the day unsupervised and wild maybe there is a need for a subsidised summer camp facility? • Market the facility and courses available outside Fife. More biodiversity stuff , less of the cropped grass desert feel around the mineshaft and pond areas • Generally make it more upmarket and market it as a tourist destination Phil Clarke 04.08.08 Have Your Say’ Comments and Feedback Fife Council Strengths • Great local resource well used by people from all of the surrounding communities • Has contributed substantially to the amenity and value of the local area • Well used and valued by people from other parts of Fife and neighbouring areas • Good accessibility from all of Fife and surrounding areas. • Free resource makes it more accessible • Inclusive facilities suitable for all people
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Consultee Date Comments Response/ Comments • Good demonstration of managing recreation and conservation • Well maintained site • Generally has been kept up to date over the years Weaknesses • Value of park to local area has not been appreciated by some people – has lead to promotion of inappropriate developments. • Vulnerable to further inappropriate development due to being a valuable land asset • Lack of resources put in I recent years has limited its potential despite the best efforts of park management staff. • Conflict between fishing interests and other uses / conservation has not been resolved • Still some inappropriate signage within the park – particularly around the car parking and play areas. Developments / Changes • Revamp play area • Remove old / out of date signage • Remove access barriers • Provide bound surface on link path between Kelty and park centre • Designate nature reserve as SSSI to protect it from development. • Ensure park land is protected from any housing or other development in local plan • Expand café and expand menu • Update centre and site interpretation • Promote more community involvement, bypassing the local elected members, to increase local value of the park to residents of the surrounding community. • Promote more non motorised water access to the loch and remove zoning. • Improve path networks around park. • Improve path network links to surrounding communities
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Consultee Date Comments Response/ Comments • Provide high quality traffic free link path from station • Keep park access free Jayne Baxter 04.08.08 Have Your Say’ Comments and Feedback Local Support Co- Strengths ordinator • The outdoor education staff who are just amazing Fife Council • The space for kids to run about • The beauty of the water and the hills around • The fact that you can walk around it and get away from people. • Good car parking • The peace and quiet • It doesn’t cost anything! • The wildlife Weaknesses • Its a long walk in for old folk if they come on the bus Developments / Changes • Better access from the Kelty end • A low key campsite so that people can stay overnight • A redesigned visitor centre with a bit more about mining heritage, perhaps a tie in with the Miners Archive at Kinglassie? Keith Dalgleish 06.08.08 Have Your Say’ Comments and Feedback Developments / Changes Area Officer • For local authorities, visitor monitoring in Country Parks and as part of their Access Strategies will West and Central be of particular importance to identify trends in recreational activity and demand for future Fife provision. Country Parks should be recognised within the local development plan to ensure that Scottish Natural their rural character and recreational value are safeguarded through the planning system. Heritage • Country Parks require ongoing financial commitment from the managing authorities to meet capital and staffing costs. These funding requirements are, however, relatively small given the popularity of many Country Parks and the wider benefits they confer. They are also relatively modest alongside the cost of other types of formal recreation provision. • The leisure market has changed significantly since Country Parks were established, with a much wider range of alternative destinations and greater demand for more adventurous activities. This breadth of choice has been facilitated by increased car ownership and improved transport connections. Some Country Parks have responded to these pressures by providing more formal recreation facilities or introducing more commercial initiatives. It will be important to ensure that this trend does not undermine the predominantly countryside character that has underpinned their success.
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Consultee Date Comments Response/ Comments • Country Parks provide accessible destinations of rural character that are of growing importance to a wide range of other policy agendas, and many Parks are already working to enhance these benefits. The realisation of these objectives will require the involvement of local communities and other relevant interests, and the continuing commitment of the managing authorities. • Continued effort is particularly needed to realise the health benefits of enjoying the outdoors and to involve socially excluded groups. Wider participation should be encouraged by the continued piloting of new projects encompassing outdoor recreation, education and volunteering. The Parks should also develop stronger links to wider transport networks including core paths, cycle routes and public transport. There may be scope for joint initiatives with other local recreational destinations such as Regional Parks and Local Nature Reserves.
SNH would wish to see the following points considered in any development plan for the park: • encourage and enable use of the Park by a broad cross-section of the community; • promote responsible access, environmental education and volunteering; • maintain and enhance the Park’s biodiversity and other environmental resources, ensuring that any formal facilities, organised events or commercial developments do not undermine its countryside character; • where necessary, develop and promote improved public transport links and connections with local path networks to and from the Park; • make links between activities taking place within the Park and wider initiatives, for example in relation to health, education and social inclusion, and; • assess progress and identify future investment needs. Darren Grieve 26.08.08 Have Your Say’ Comments and Feedback Fife Council Strengths • Great play area for children • Good fishing location including free fishing for children • Wide variety of water sports and facilities • Suitable café for tea and snacks • Good parking • Well sign posted and good access for all abilities Weaknesses • Access from Kelty and the west of the park Developments / Changes
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Consultee Date Comments Response/ Comments • Better access from other routes is a must ! • Possible caravan or holiday home complex • Possible location for new housing developments Terry Ironside 30.09.08 Comments on Consultation Note Ballingry Golf Club Phone Call All information, comments and • Very little mention of development of Golf Course/ Club house feedback received after issuing • He feels this is one of the bigger factors the Consultation Note to • Golf Course is one of the major selling points of Lochore consultees who attended the • Land already purchased for the extension of the golf course workshops have been taken • Without the golf course Lochore Meadows would not survive into account whilst writing the • What the park needs is a marketing/ business manager Development Plan. Kevin Payne 30.09.08 Comments on Consultation Note Email • One of the biggest discussions was about an indoor activity centre • As the Benarty centre has now been condemned and a new modern centre is to be built in Ballingry – It should be build at Lochore Meadows with most of the funding now in place surely this would solve a lot of headache and can be brought forward more quicker. Mike Payne 30.09.08 Comments on Consultation Note Email • At the consultation he attended he mentioned that there was no local input into the management of the park and that he felt there must be places made available for local representatives to be part of the park management. No where in the document does he see this mention. Phil Clarke 01.10.08 Comments on Consultation Note Engineer / Planner Email Fife Council • Works for Fife Council Transportation Services in the Transport Planning team. Transportation • Notes in the Key Development Opportunities table there is mention of creating an access to Services the park centre from Kelty. Such an access is of concern to our service as this could have a significant impact on the traffic in the Kelty area and its surrounding roads. Such a proposal would require careful consideration and an assessment of the Traffic impacts on the surrounding roads and communities. Compliance with Fife Councils' 'Design Manual for Roads and Bridges' would be required to ensure new access roads are adopted and maintained by Fife Council. • It would also be crucial not to provide a through route for motorised vehicle traffic as this would inevitably lead to 'rat running' and further increase traffic flows in the area as well as detracting from the amenity of the park. • In keeping with Fifes Local Transport Strategy and also Government transport policy, transport
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Consultee Date Comments Response/ Comments measures should focus on improving access to public transport and providing good walking and cycling links. Measures which encourage or increase car usage should be avoided. • He would be happy to provide guidance and advice on matters in the park development plan relating to roads and transportation. James Payne 01.10.08 Comments on Consultation Note Phone Call • Fife Council needs money to implement the development of Lochore Meadows – why not use the money already got for the Benarty Community Centre and build it at Lochore Keith Breasley 02.10.08 Comments on Consultation Note Hospitality Services Email Officer • Agrees that should a new visitor centre evolve then the catering facilities would have to also. A Catering & Cleaning more developed park and increased usage would possibly make the changes mentioned Service appropriate, although the term 'restaurant' does conjure up something that is not appropriate for the location currently. • As for short term aims to enhance the cafe, I am all for them. It has always seemed bizarre that the wonderful views and location of the cafe are not utilised by way of a terrace. Selling locally produced food etc may come but radical changes to the menu should be introduced gradually and must take into account the current kitchen facility (and staff). Alison Irvine 04.10.08 Comments on Consultation Note Access Officer – Fife Email Council • Sees no money making schemes to fund all this • There are a large number of farm shops and cafes around so it is a very competitive market • Agrees with vision and objectives • Worried about finding sources of funding
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Appendix D
Workshop - Group Outputs
Bressay Tunnel: SIC Planning and Risk Workshop Appendix D
Appendix D: Workshop - Group Outputs
D1 Priorities
D1.1 Land Managers
Strengths • People’s Park • Location • Good balance of populated/busy east side and countryside/quiet west side of Park • Free access
Weaknesses • Signage/public relations etc non-existent • Underdeveloped restaurant • Access (with caution) • Communication – all – newsletter • Facilities not utilised by council – e.g. educational/disabled users • Financial/funding
Opportunities • Café • Access – west end • Improved security • Protect wildlife area • Subsidised funding from development outwith the Park • Accommodation / visitor facilities • Develop educational resources • Create long term strategic planning • Promote local food perhaps farm shop • Equestrian centre
Threats • Wildlife and ‘park ethos’ • Funding (lack of) – external • Over development – impact on farming practice • Security • Doing nothing • Animal fouling • Quad bikes / motor bikes / cars
D1.2 Lochore Meadows Country Park – Employees
Strengths • Location • Activities • Popularity • Area clean / tidy • Skilled staff
Weaknesses • parking – not enough space (in summer) • state of building • play area • accesses (Kelty end)
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• staff/management (shake up/low morale) • lack of investment
Opportunities • revamped visitor centre/café/interpretation • play area upgrade • woodland bike trail – linking up two other areas
Threats • selling land to developers • staff cuts/budget • management
D1.3 Stakeholders
Strengths • Location • Community involvement • Education/learning • Environment/conservation • Accessibility and facilities • Central location and high quality
Weaknesses • Anti social behaviour • Marketing • Investment • Council management • Value as conservation resource and conflict • Catering for needs in fife
Opportunities • Increase number of visitors – involve locals, tourists/visitors • By: Centre of Excellence in: o Outdoor learning o Environmental education and interpretation o Improved transport links (road and off road) o Zero carbon/sustainability • Through: commercial business opportunities and local opportunities • But: maintain conservation interest and balance
Threats • Funding • Housing development • Conflict of interests of activities • Accessibility – to park and user range • To the environment (over use, under use/managed) • Marketing and promotional
D1.4 Lochgelly Community Strengths • Families – community resource • Popularity • Beautiful landscape/environment
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• Location • Disable access and facilities • Involvement of schools • Outdoor education facilities, e.g. watersports • Fishing • Events • Golf course • Castle • Accessible for walks from Lochgelly • Osprey • Setting/landscape
Weaknesses • Signage to the park from surrounding roads and communities is very limited • There is no direct access to the park from the Kelty road • The is no publicity for the park • The park needs a higher public profile • Paths are used by horses as well as wheelchairs and families and there is a conflict of interest. • No proper facility for coarse fishing • Fishing fee is too expensive • Events put on in the park are not widely publicised • There is no path from Lochgelly to the park • There are less free facilities for less well-off people than there could be • The castle is run-down • Anti-social behaviour is a problem within the park
Opportunities • bridal path separate to footpath • needs higher profile • path from south side of Lochgelly and into the park • expansion of golf course • renovation of castle / historic monuments (symbol of the Park?) • community ownership/involvement • angling – encourage fishing • signposting for paths • facilities, e.g. trim trail • caravan park / residential facility • access from Kelty end • visitor centre upgrade and café • youth section/coaching at Ballingry • bird watching • blackboard outside to give/provide information • profile raising • better access • improved communications – comments box • ‘Friends of Lochore’ Group • little investment leads to better resources • course fishing • renovate the “trim track” course to promote physical activity.
D1.5 Ballingry Community Strengths • Facilities • Free access at entry
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• Golf course • Location • Watersports • Maintenance • Good for walking (new path excellent) • Children’s play area – well used • Accessibility; wheelchairs, bikes, pushchairs • Rangers service • Good venue for community gatherings
Weaknesses • Poor access from Kelty • No good eating/refreshments • No new initiatives in last 15 years • Poor wet weather facilities • Under used by school children • Poor promotion of park • Poor local involvement with management • Fishing too expensive • Golf course has poor facilities • Poorly policed (anti-social behaviour) • Poor opportunities for retail/revenue generation • No mining heritage education/information centre
Opportunities • Improve golf facilities (18 holes, club house, advertising) • Indoor activity centre – school trips – education (similar to Landmark Centre) • Outdoor education improvement • Better advertisement • Better food/restaurant facilities (good quality, in keeping with surroundings, local produce e.g. Loch Leven Larder) • Provision of accommodation: camping, youth groups, chalets • Different management set up; local trust or one individual to lead (from commercial world) • Better facilities for children • Longer opening (more staffing)
D1.6 Lochore Meadows Advisory Group Strengths • Outdoor activities and associated facilities and education • Strong local community relationship/ enthusiasm • Caters for all ages and family orientated • Location/ access • Existing infrastructure, e.g. café • Existing partnerships • Available land for development • Good quality estate management
Weaknesses • Lack of facilities o For children/ teenagers o Eating/ changing • Security o After hours warden needed in a monitoring and reporting role
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o CCTV (for problem hot spots – car park and building) • Access o Only one road in and out of Park o Kelty end • Maintenance
Opportunities • Outdoor activity development o Mountain bikes o Climbing wall etc • Outdoor leisure development o Caravan/ log cabin o Fishing • Improve access • Improve security • Indoor facilities • Invest in marketing/ promotion • Promote better community engagement • Promote events, e.g. mini Highland Games • Improve café facilities • Unique Selling Point (USP) – nature centre / eco centre • Invest in more estate management
Threats • Setting goals too high and not achieving them • Lowering of standards and expectations • Losing community • Funding for the future o Entry costs may drive families away due to expense • Threat to environment o From traffic, over development etc • Anti-social behaviour/ increased crime
D1.7 Kelty Community Strengths • No entry fees • Access for all • Parking facilities • Children’s facilities • Dogs and horses welcome • Unrestricted, safe cycling • New mountain bike area • Peaceful environment, attracts a variety of wildlife • Clean and tidy and well maintained • Range of activities • Good management
Weaknesses • Access o From Kelty o Quality o Gates o Manure/ fouling • Café opening hours and facility • No mining heritage centre • Lack of facilities
Natural Capital Ltd D - 5 Fife Council Bressay Tunnel: SIC Planning and Risk Workshop Appendix D
• No shuttle bus • Poor advertising
Opportunities • Better car access from M90 and Kelty • Signposting through Kelty village • Improved advertising in Kelty and other local communities • Catering facilities/shop upgraded/opening • Upgrade existing facilities – e.g. paths • Build limited caravan, camping, bunkhouse facility • Further development of adventure activities (eco-friendly) • Local visitor centre/mining museum • Learn from other places, e.g. Landmark, lagan, Glentress • Another bird hide accessible to people with disabilities – improve present hide
Natural Capital Ltd D - 6 Fife Council
Natural Capital Ltd 13 Coates Crescent Edinburgh EH3 7AF Tel: 0131 220 6121 Fax: 0131 220 6131 Email: [email protected]